Electrically operated drawer



Filed April 50, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR I. J KTcuner A TJ ATTORNEYAug. 26, 1930. F. J. KRAMER 4 ELEOTRIGALLY OPERATED DRAWER Filed April30, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR WITNESSES I a i Kr v v ATTORNEY Aug.26, 1930. F. J. KRAMER 4, 4

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED DRAWER Filed April 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3WITNESSES MENTOR #1 1:60am J K mer ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1930PATENT @FFHCE FRANK J. KRAMER, OF GREAT BEND, KANSAS ELECTRICALLYOPERATED DRAWER Application filed April 30, 1928. Serial No. 274,105.

This invention relates to an electrically operated drawer for use inbanks or financial in stitutions of any kind, and has for an object toprovide a construction wherein substantially an ordinary drawer ispresented and as sociated with means for locking the drawer both in anopen and closed position with connections for actuating the lockingmeans so as to move the same to an unlocked position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawer adapted to beclosed by a spring or other means, and also to provide locking meanscapable of being moved by electro-magnets to open positions, the eleclitro-magnets being actuated from a distant point.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a drawer wherein aswitch is arranged at the bottom of the drawer normally held open bysome of the money or other papers in thedrawer, the switch beingassociated with an alarm mechanism whereby when all the papers have beenwithdrawn from the drawer the switch will close the circuit of the alarmmechanism.

In the accompanying drawings,"

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a drawer andassociated parts disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the drawer operating mechanism shownin Figure 1, part of the drawer being shown in connection therewith;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view as through Figure 1approximately on the line Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of thefront part of the drawer shown in Figure 1, the same illustrating theswitch embodying certain features of the invention;

Figure 5 is a diagram of the wiring for the magnet and associated partsshown in F igures 1 to 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a casingor cabinet of any kind, and 2 a drawer. This drawer may be of anydesired kind operated by a suitable pull 3. The cabinet or casing 1 maybe of any desired type so as to support the drawer in proper manner. Thesupporting means for the drawer includes a rear supporting bar 4 and afront supporting bar 5. Brackets 6 and 7 are secured in any desiredmanner to the supporting bars 4 and 5, said brackets having aperturesfor accommodating the sliding rod 8. This rod is provided with anadjustable stop 9 for confining the spring 10 which surrounds the rod atone point and bears against abutment 9 and against bracket 7 forresiliently and normally holding the rod 8 in the position shown inFigure 1 with the adjustable stop 11 pressing against bracket 6. Anadjustable stop 12 is also secured to the rod 8 and spaced a shortdistance from stop 11. When the drawer 2 has been pulled to an openposition in the usual manner, the guiding bracket 13 carried by thecarriage 14 will move along the rod 8 and engage stop 9. When the drawer2 is fully opened, bracket 13 will move stop 9 against the action ofspring 10 until the hook 15 moves over and interlocks with the stop 16whereby carriage 14 and associated parts are held at a point near thefront of the cabinet. This movement of the stop 9 and rod 8 causes thefront face of stop 12 to be nearer the front of the cabinet than thehook 17 whereby drawer 2 may be closed but not locked in a closedposition as the stop 12 engages the guiding bracket 18 carried by thedrawer 2. The bracket 18 is provided with a base 19 rigidly secured tothe bottom of drawer 2, and said base is provided with an integralextension 20 having an aperture for accommodating rod 8 and an abutmentportion 21 against which the resilient bumper 22 strikes when the catch23 including hook 15 is released. The carriage 1.4 may be built up ofmany pieces or formed of one solid piece, but must be provided withopenings or passageways for receiving guiding bars 24 and 25 and with aplate 26 for carrying the bumper 22. The bracket 13 and also theabutment or catch bracket 16 are secured to the carriage 14 by screws orother means. Near the front of the cabinet is arranged a bracket 27 onwhich is pivotally mounted the catch 23, which catch is held in a givenposition by the spring 28. An armature 29 is connected to the catch 23by a suitable arm 30, and this arm normally rests on the pin 31. Asubstantially ii -shaped frame 32 secured in any desired n anner to therespective supporting sections 323 and Ill of members l and 5. All thesemembers. via. members 5, and may be of one piece of material or separatepieces connected togeth r to provide a support on which drawer mayslide. In any event an opening 35 must be provided through which thebracket 18 and other parts may extend. The frame 32 supports in anydesired manner a pair electro-lnagnets 36 which, when energized,attracts armature 29 and therefore swings catch 23 against the action(it spring 28 for releasii'ig hook 15 in case the same is interlockedwith the lug or abutment 1(5. Adjacent the rear of the cabine' there isprovided a catch 37 having a hook 1?. said *atch being pivotally mountedat 38 on a suitable bracket 39 and urged in a given position by a spriin armature l1 is rigidly secured to the catch 3? near hook 1?. saidarmature being adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnet l2 whensaid magnethas been energized. This iciently strong to overcome theLiUll of spring l0. so that when this magnet energized hook 1? is pulledaway from the c t or abutment 1. thus releasing the drawer whereby itmay be pulled manually to an open position. In usual ope ztion of thedrawer, the same is pulled open to such an extent as to arise the lug orabutment 1(5 interlock with hook 15.

After this has been done the drawer may be closed, but it will not belocked closed as the ad ustable stop 12 will prevent the bracket frommoving s l'licien rearw: rdly to interlock with hook 17. At any time then agnets may be energized and when this occurs hook 15 will be moved toan unlock d position wherel'iy stop or abutment is w ll be disengagedand carriage 1st released. iis occurs regardless of whether the draweris pen completely, partially open or closed. I the d 'awer is closed andthe carriage 1-1; released from hook 15 as just desr'rribed. saidcarriage will quickly more under the action of the respective springs 3toward the rear of the cabinet and will :ause bumper 2:? to strikeabutment 21 and force this abutment and bracket 18 and asso ciatedpz-rts turther to the rear. This movement is icieut to cause the bracket18 to g.-a =s hook 1?. whereupon this hook will interlock with b ket- 18and thereby the drawer will become locked. As soon as the carriage ithas been released from hook 15 bracket 13 will natural move away fromthe stop 9. whereupon ng will move rod 8 toboth sets of the magneticmembers 36 and are ope ated from a distance. particularly in banks andother inaneial institutions. thus pmmitting someone at a d'-ance to shethe d'awer and e se oi" highwaymen atthe teller. Also. by

igeinent the teller cannot open the an; time wit out the action of the lin ador other party at a and locking- 1 clos ng 'awer. means have beenprovided for -21 alarm to be sounded when all of a other pape s .-avebeen removed drawer As indicated in Figures there is provided a contactpin l extends through the bottom of the 3. as shown in Figure 1. so thatthe er eno may be e ectrically connected with the conductor 45. A secondconductor l6 is arrznged parallel with the conductor and et-itends to apoint near the plate 19. uitable wires are connected to the conductorsetc) and to near plate 19 and thence extend to 2 source of current andto an aiarni. as for instance, bell *l-i'. Contact pin -58 also extendsthrong; the bottom of drawer lock the. same in ca tempting to hold upthis arra said contact a s a clamping bolt for Ttiitt blade if a also asa conductor conncr i; l lade with the 1. .r at! conductor lb. Blade 1-?)is oi": resilient metal and. has a tendency to press against the con--so as to close the circuit at this point, part of the circuit being per-When the drawe is in use l ietween contact so as to open the circuit. Lier may be money. *aluable documerits or 'n fact any piece of paper,though usually it is a bank note or otl er piece of nionev. in case. burlar or lughwayman he would money in the drawer This would cause theshould attempt to rifle the drawer natu 'aliy grasp all the and removethe same. bill l.=elween blace -15) and contact pulled out of position.and consequently b ade $9 would immediately engage Contact and hell 1?would be opci ,d. thus giving 1 d, alarm and at in e t me rc- *atch :3.A diagram is shown in 1 illustrating the circuit oi? theclcctro-niagnetic members 316 and and also the circuit of the blame l5and contact ll. From this circuit it will be seen that theelectro-magnet 52 may be energized when the 5 to lie so itcl it) isclosed. said switch beiiug' preterably at a distance from the drawer henP ns switch is closed current will on and thence tl'n'ough the windingsof magnet 4-2 and return wire 53 to switch i 'i switch so to wire 5stwhich is o the opposite side of the source l. when it is desired toenergize is closed and curwire 56, w' ndings of tch and wire 5% back tothe battery 51. When the blade 49 is engaging contact 44 current willpass from battery 51 to wire 52 and thence to wire 56, magnet 36,conductor 58, conductor 45, contact pin 48, blade 49, contact 44,conductor 46 and wire 59 to the bell mechanism 47 and thence throughwire 60 back to wire 54 and from this wire back to battery 51. As thecurrent flows in this circuit the magnets 36 release catch 23 at thesame time as hell 47 rings whereby springs 43 will quickly close thedrawer. When an authorized person desires to remove all the contentsfrom drawer 2 he merely swings the blade 49 to one side as illustratedin Figure 5, thus opening the circuit.

What I claim is 1. An electrically operated drawer, comprising a drawermember having a pair of depending brackets, means for slidably mountingsaid drawer so that it may slide in and out, means for normally holdingthe drawer member closed, said means including a reciprocating carriageformed with a member adapted to strike one of said lrackets for closingsaid drawer when the carriage is moved in one direction, a springactingto move the carriage for closing said drawer member, and a springpressed. hook coactinp; with one of said brackets, an electricallyoperated. member for causing said hook to be moved to anon-functionalposition. and means near the front of the drawer for holding said carriage against functioning while allowing the drawer to be moved in and outfreely.

2. In an electrically operated drawer, a drawer member, a bracketextending from said drawer member, carriage, means for slidablysupporting the carriage, said carriage having a bracket extending intothe path of movement of the firstanentioned bracket, a spi'ingactuatedcatch near the front oi. the drawer for engaging and locking thecarriage in one position, springs connected to the carriage for movingthe carriage to a second position, said springs cansin said carriage tostrike the first-mentioned bracketi'or moving the drawer structure to aclosed position, an electro-magnetic member for moving said catch to anopen position for releasing said carriage, a spring-pressed catch forengaging the firstonentioned bracket against movement in one direction,and electrically operated means for moving said catch to an openposition.

A device of the character described, comprising a drawer member, acabinet for the drawer member, said drawer member being adapted to bepulled to an open position manually, a bracket secured to said drawermember provided with an abutment, a slid ing carriage independent ofsaid abutment moved by the abutment to a position near the front of thecabinet when the drawer is fully opened, a catch near the front of thecabinet positioned to interlock with part of the carriage for holdingthe carriage near the front or" the cabinet, springs connected with saidcarriage positioned to pull the carriage back to the starti point whensaid catch has been released, a magnetically-operated means forreleasing said catch whereby said springs will move said carriag back tothe starting point and said carriage will engage said abutment andi'nove the abutment and drawer back their starting point whereby thedrawer is closed, means positoned to interlock with. said bracket forlocking said drawer closed, and magnetically-qaerated means forreleasing the last-mentioned means.

4. A device of the cha 'acter d scribed, comprising cabinet, a drawerpositioned in said cabinet adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly, amember connected with the botd drawer provided with a bracket carriagenormally a slidin said :iutment, a spring act said abutment wher y whensaid drawer is led to a tr opened position, said car- ,,e will be movedto a position near the trout of the cabinet, a catch positioned tointerlock with part of the carriage when the drawer is moved to a fullyopened position, whereby the carriage is prevented from moving thedrawer to a closed position, said drawer being capable of being manuallyclosed, a hook for normally locking the drawer closed, means actuated bysaid abutment for preventing the locking of the drawer closed when thecarriage is held by said catch and an electrically-operated member forreleasing said catch, and means including a source of or "rent and aswitch at a distant point for causing said electrically-operated memberto function.

5. In an electrically closed drawer, a drawer structure, spring meansfor closing the drawer structine, means for normally holding the drawerstructure open, electricallyoperated means for releasing said holdingmeans, a lock for locking the drawer closed, a switch arranged in thedrawer and adapted to be normally maintained open by some oil the papersin the drawer, and a circuit for said switch, said circuit including asource of current and said elec 'caLy-operated means.

Signed at li'liners in the county of Schuylkill, and of Pennsylvaniathis 23rd day of April, A. 1). one thousand nine hundred and twentyeiaht.

FRANK J. KRAMER.

ho d said carriage against lit)

